Schedule Changes due to Testing

No Club Day on April 21^st

Spring Pictures are Thursday, March 30^th

Lockdown Drill moved to April 17th

FireFlies Game

If you are interested in attending the Fireflies game on May 7^th,  please fill out the order form and stick it in Mrs. Milsteads box.  If you are taking a guest please go ahead and purchase their ticket with this order form also.  Checks should be made to Columbia Fireflies.  Order forms will be mailed together.  Order forms are due no later than Thursday, March 30^th.  Children 2 and under do not need a ticket.   

Spring Fling

Mark your calendars for April 21st. That night from 5- 6:30 is our Annual PTO Spring Fling. Crowing will begin at 7 p.m. The PTO is asking for your help with selling tickets, helping with games, or assisting with food sales.  There is a orange sign-up sheet located on the table in the main office.  Select a time that night to come help.  There is also a pink sheet for those bakers who can bring a cake for the cake walk.  The PTO will be sending home Chick-Fil-A order forms with students on Wednesday.  Once the money and order forms come back in, send them to the main office. 

District Wednesday

There area two items we need to take care of on Early Release day this Wednesday.  The first is testing training held in the Media Center at 1:30 p.m.  Mrs. Graham sent an email for all of those folks who need to attend.  Secondly, all teachers will need to complete the State Department Teacher survey about our school.  The results from this survey will be compiled and reported on our School Report Card.  I will send an email on Wednesday morning with the directions.  Mrs. Boozer's lab will be open before and after testing training for you to take the survey.  Please allow yourself at least 15 minutes to take the survey. 

Technology Tip

If you use sites like YouTube to stream music in your classroom this tip is for you.  As you know our district doesn't want us streaming from YouTube, but you can save the video to your computer for anytime use.  I observed a classroom this week that used a video for the morning routines and for writing.  Don't let my wordy directions scary you, it is easy to save a video and here is how.

Start by going to YouTube.  You can search any type of music playlist.  One example is to type "relaxing music playlist" and then select any video you like.  I have been using the third video on the search list this week in my office.  Once you've selected the video you wish to use, copy the website link.  For example my link is below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcsUYu0PVxY&t=8333s

After copying that link go to keepvid.com.  Once there paste the link in the download bar and click download.  Then click the top copy to download (see red arrow in picture below).

Your file will then download where ever you decide to save it.  I saved mine on my desktop for easy access.  That is up to you.

Spring Picture Day

We've made a change to the Spring Picture Day.  It is now March 30th.  Please communicate this date on your newsletters.  The original date (April 19th) was during testing.

Related Arts Schedule

You will receive an abbreviated related arts and extra P.E. schedule coming Wednesday at testing training. 

SLO Meetings

If you have a SLO meeting in the coming days, be sure you've input your post assessment data AND completed the last section on the template (Conference Reflection).  You can input this information directly into OneNote.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Technology

News App: We are finding that the news app on the iPad is not  always age appropriate and at times even inappropriate for school. I would suggest removing this app from the iPad and finding another resource if you are sharing current events with students. Removing this app can be done by holding down the red News app until the "X" appears in the corner. Next, select the "X" and when prompted select "delete."

Safari Montage

If you have a Windows 10 computer, these are the steps for Safari Montage through Internet Explorer.

Type Internet Explorer in the search box beside the start button

Choose the Internet Explorer App

Pomaria Garmary Web Page

Safari Montage Link

You might have to install the player – I did but it did not go away – Choose Remind me later

At the bottom of the page, you will have to click on Run Control.

The first time may take a restart of browser.

You can Save this link to the desktop where you can easily open it daily.

You might have to right click on the area at the top of the computer to be able to check th

Menu Bar to get to File, Save As, Desktop …….

If you have any questions or need help, please talk with Alice.

Paper Saving

Paper Saving Tip: Please remember that our copiers have the capability to scan and send emails. Once emailed, documents can be pulled up on your Smart Board and written on.

Teacher of the Week

Don't forget to tune in or set to record the WLTX Friends at 5 show on Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. or the Morning Show on Wednesday morning at 5:45 a.m. to see our very own Coach  Long being recognized as the Teacher of the Week.  Congrats again Coach Long!

PGE Welcomes

You've probably noticed some new faces in our building this last week.  Ms. Jessica Teague is student teaching with Mrs. Whitesides and Mr. Cole Watson is student teaching with Coach Long.  Give these two a warm PGE welcome when you see them.

Daylight Savings

Don't forget to "Spring Forward" tonight (Saturday).

No Faculty Meeting Wednesday

You survived Read Across America week,  visitor schedules, AND no phones or internet for 2 days.  The outage of our phones and internet was a AT&T issue effecting a large area around the school.  As of 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon, we are up and running.  Fingers are crossed that we are able to broadcast the Morning News without any issues tomorrow.

Pat on the back to you all.  We received compliments from our visitors last week.  Our students were respectful and asked great questions.  Thank you for all that you do to model and support their positive behavior and promote learning.

Awards Day Change

We made a change to our Awards Day during our last Leadership Meeting.  The new date is May 26th.  The original date was a conflict with the MCMS 8th grade graduation.  We won't always be able to make changes mid-year, but fortunately it worked out this time.  I'll make the change on the Master Calendar as well.

Copier

Another item discussed at Leadership was the use of our copier.  PGE is allotted approximately 625,000 copies a year.  Currently we have used 785,000 copies for the 2016-2017 school year.  For the entire 2015-2016 school year we used 760,000.  So you can see we are already over our allotted amount AND have surpassed the usage this year with months still to go.  We have to cut back folks. We have to utilize our smartboards more, reduce where we can, and be resourceful with paper and copies.  Please don't misunderstand me.  If you have a instructional need for copies, use it.  However, we all know there are multiple ways we can reduce and cut back on the copies made.  The leadership team discussed some creative ways to cut back and will be presenting ideas to begin the year next year. 

Last Planning Day

Your March 1/2 day PD days are the last for this school year.  My plan is to visit each group this month to assist in answering questions before testing, look at your current data you bring to discuss, and to plan for how to best meet the needs of our students before testing. If you have any needs before, during, or after your PD planning days- please let me know.

GCA

There have been some GCA staff changes.  Ms. Jane will be on the morning shift.  A new employee, Melissa Gallman will be coming in at lunch.  Ms. Dot and Mr. Sonny will continue their regular hours. 

Tumblebooks

The PTO renewed our subscription to TumbleBooks Library.  You can add the log in information to your newsletters for parents to access at home.  It is below.  There is also a quick link you can use in your classroom or IPAD's that is below.  This is a great site for read alouds and shared reading books that are organized by content, genre, etc.  

For Parents:

www.tumblebooklibrary.com

Username:  pomariagarmany

Password:  reads

For Teachers:

http://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/auto_login.aspx?u=pomariagarmany&p=reads

Article

As we get closer to Spring Break and Testing season, see the article below about how to avoid burnout.

5 Tips for Avoiding Teacher Burnout: Edutopia blogger Mary Beth Hertz addresses teacher burnout with suggestions for both educators and administrators. Her tips include an ongoing attitude of professional development, including all stakeholders when things change, and maintaining a personal life.